Laid-off Im Sorry or Congratulations!

Laid-off Im Sorry or Congratulations! For years my wife and I would say that when someone tells us that they are getting laid off we say congratulations! This is because this transition could be wonderful things for you. It could mean that you are leaving an environment that youve outgrown, that you are positioning yourself for something great to come. That was my situation in 2006 as I was laid off from a toxic environment with a boss who stressed me out all the way to an urgent clinic to see if I was having a heart attack. Alas, it wasnt that, it was only the result of a mismatch of integrity that manifested in physical stress to the point of a pre-ulcer. I ended up starting JibberJobber, and down a very unpredictable but rewarding path. So yes, for me, congrats were in order. And my wife and I would project that to others, giving them hope and inspiration, letting them know that great things were in store for them. But, its not always that way. Last year when I was employed full time as a program manager some things in our life changed. Fortunately, I had the sense of mind to realize that that job was only one revenue stream not my entire livelihood. That perspective would prove to be critical come October, when I heard Your last day will be. Yes, this was only one revenue stream. Yes, great things could be in my future. But, I was about to, once again, realize the depth of devastation that a layoff could inflict on a family. These included: Financial plans needing to be readjusted. When I got the job, that February, we got a new and significant revenue stream. This would allow us to take care of business and personal debt in a way that we couldnt have imagined before. We didnt get to live lavishly, but we certainly saw an path to getting out from under the debt stress. When I was given notice of my last day, the message was and you wont be able to work on your debt the way you thought you would.   Fortunately we had (a) other income streams, and (b) opportunities to create more, or ramp up existing, streams. What if the job was 100% of our income, though? It would have gone from being a considerable annoyance to putting us out on the street (sounds dramatic, but Ive been doing JibberJobber for 13 years and Ive seen and heard stories like that). Health insurance changes. Or, I should say, health insurance evaporating. If youve read my blog much you have probably seen my posts on surgery without insurance. It hasnt been our choice to not have insurance. And we definitely know its risky. More risky than what we are comfortable with. But, with my job I got insurance. It was a nice feeling. We were in the system, and kept track of our deductibles, etc. We felt safer, and that we could take care of some health things. And then, it all went away. The feeling of safety went away. Health insurance is a luxury that people who have jobs get. Or people who have a certain income level get (we make too much for the affordable care act, but too little to pay the super high cost of paying your own insurance). Purpose. I was on a cool team building a cool product working for a cool company around cool people. Then, I got booted out of the club. In Coveys book, 7 Habits, he talks about what your center is. If your center is your title, or your professional purpose, or being attached to a cool company, then you are setting yourself up for a problem. Especially now, with companies ready to change employees like you change your clothes, do not rely on the fulfillment you get from work to be your center. That will change, or go away, and you dont want to have no center. So, congrats, or Im sorry? I dont know. Im back to my core income streams, and focusing on strengthening them so if I get another opportunity like I had last year, Ill be more prepared. I feel, for me, a congrats is in order. But Ive had a hard time saying goodbye to what I had, what I was building, what I was a part of, and what I was becoming. Thank goodness my mind has been in career management all these years, with an emphasis on income streams. I hope that for you, once the Im sorry wears off, you get to see the beauty and security of CONGRATS! Laid-off Im Sorry or Congratulations! For years my wife and I would say that when someone tells us that they are getting laid off we say congratulations! This is because this transition could be wonderful things for you. It could mean that you are leaving an environment that youve outgrown, that you are positioning yourself for something great to come. That was my situation in 2006 as I was laid off from a toxic environment with a boss who stressed me out all the way to an urgent clinic to see if I was having a heart attack. Alas, it wasnt that, it was only the result of a mismatch of integrity that manifested in physical stress to the point of a pre-ulcer. I ended up starting JibberJobber, and down a very unpredictable but rewarding path. So yes, for me, congrats were in order. And my wife and I would project that to others, giving them hope and inspiration, letting them know that great things were in store for them. But, its not always that way. Last year when I was employed full time as a program manager some things in our life changed. Fortunately, I had the sense of mind to realize that that job was only one revenue stream not my entire livelihood. That perspective would prove to be critical come October, when I heard Your last day will be. Yes, this was only one revenue stream. Yes, great things could be in my future. But, I was about to, once again, realize the depth of devastation that a layoff could inflict on a family. These included: Financial plans needing to be readjusted. When I got the job, that February, we got a new and significant revenue stream. This would allow us to take care of business and personal debt in a way that we couldnt have imagined before. We didnt get to live lavishly, but we certainly saw an path to getting out from under the debt stress. When I was given notice of my last day, the message was and you wont be able to work on your debt the way you thought you would.   Fortunately we had (a) other income streams, and (b) opportunities to create more, or ramp up existing, streams. What if the job was 100% of our income, though? It would have gone from being a considerable annoyance to putting us out on the street (sounds dramatic, but Ive been doing JibberJobber for 13 years and Ive seen and heard stories like that). Health insurance changes. Or, I should say, health insurance evaporating. If youve read my blog much you have probably seen my posts on surgery without insurance. It hasnt been our choice to not have insurance. And we definitely know its risky. More risky than what we are comfortable with. But, with my job I got insurance. It was a nice feeling. We were in the system, and kept track of our deductibles, etc. We felt safer, and that we could take care of some health things. And then, it all went away. The feeling of safety went away. Health insurance is a luxury that people who have jobs get. Or people who have a certain income level get (we make too much for the affordable care act, but too little to pay the super high cost of paying your own insurance). Purpose. I was on a cool team building a cool product working for a cool company around cool people. Then, I got booted out of the club. In Coveys book, 7 Habits, he talks about what your center is. If your center is your title, or your professional purpose, or being attached to a cool company, then you are setting yourself up for a problem. Especially now, with companies ready to change employees like you change your clothes, do not rely on the fulfillment you get from work to be your center. That will change, or go away, and you dont want to have no center. So, congrats, or Im sorry? I dont know. Im back to my core income streams, and focusing on strengthening them so if I get another opportunity like I had last year, Ill be more prepared. I feel, for me, a congrats is in order. But Ive had a hard time saying goodbye to what I had, what I was building, what I was a part of, and what I was becoming. Thank goodness my mind has been in career management all these years, with an emphasis on income streams. I hope that for you, once the Im sorry wears off, you get to see the beauty and security of CONGRATS!

How Small Talk Can Win Or Lose You Clients

How Small Talk Can Win Or Lose You Clients Dog Walking, Art Yorkshire Cricket Over the years I’ve found certain ways to mitigate those awkward opening small talk exchanges that occur when we meet new clients for the first time. One simple and obvious way is by doing some basic company research before hand so I can comment on recent news etc. Another is to look up the contact’s Linkedin profile and acquaint myself with their career history or what updates they have recently shared. Even better if they have a blog or twitter account as this is manna from heaven for finding something to talk about. Another way I sometimes break the ice is by commenting upon interesting items in the room as way to begin a conversation and build rapport. Last year this methodology worked for me very effectively twice in a row but the third time it got me in to one of those horrible hope-the-ground-swallows me moments. Here’s what happened. Meeting number one took place with a HR Director who I noticed had a considerable amount of photos of a dog on her shelves. As we’d just got our first family dog and the novelty of cold rainy walks before bedtime hadn’t worn off yet this was a great subject to start chatting about. Pretty soon we were swapping doggy owner tips and anecdotes. Meeting number two was with a CEO of major financial services company and his office was festooned with works of art that were not the usual corporate flat print types. Luckily I was on familiar ground with this subject as I studied History of Art at university. Commenting upon his Barbara Hepworths got me in to a great conversation with the CEO and it turned out he too had a keen interest in this area and his wife and daughters were all striving artists and collectors. Meeting number three was where my small talk strategy all went wrong. This meeting was with the inimitable millionaire Yorkshireman Colin Graves. At the time Colin was the owner of Costcutter, the supermarket chain he started in 1986 and later sold in 2012, and he was also Chairman of Yorkshire Cricket Club. Naturally an obvious opening gambit was to discuss the fortunes of that famous cricket club that is so dear to every true Yorkshireman’s heart: “Hello Colin, I see from all the photographs that cricket is an important part of your life. How’s your season been?” What followed was a silence I can only describe as deafening. Mr Graves fixed me with a stare that would perhaps have even quailed Sir Geoff of Boycott OBE in his crease during his pomp and boomed back â€" “Bloody crap! Bloody Lancashire won the bloody championship; whilst we were bloody relegated!” I have never felt like such stupid southerner trespassing on God’s own county. Needless to say the rest of meeting following this opening small talk didn’t really go well and I’ve not been asked back. Moral of the story? Don’t try to be too clever by half, always do your research before a meeting and avoid attempting to wing-it about subjects you know little about; especially when it’s discussing cricket with a Yorkshireman. Related: How to Start Conversations with Strangers in a Natural Way

Your Resumes Job

Your Resume’s Job Resumes have always been considered as the most important tool in your job search.     I guess resumes will always be important, but some jobseekers are asking it to do a job it was never meant to do.   Recently, I presented to a group of Jacksonville jobseekers that included a young attorney.   She was between jobs and asked me for my opinion on her resume.   Specialized careers such as attorney, information technology, or CPA, have their own language and culture.   Usually, it takes an attorney to know whether the skills you have are in demand or hard to find. Only an attorney will know whether the firm you worked for has prestige or great leadership or a winning culture.   That’s industry insider information that an outsider expert on resumes (like me) probably doesn’t have.   So here’s what I told her. First, it’s hard for an outsider to judge whether your resume is doing the best job it can in selling your skills.   It presents an excellent example of when to use the informational interview. Ask someone who recruits attorneys to review your resume and discuss briefly what would make it stronger.   The classic informational interview asks for advice and feedback without expecting an offer of work, and it is ideal for this situation. Second, I told the young attorney that she should never expect her resume to do the work her network should be doing.   In specialized occupations like law, there is a tight network of associates who should be able to champion you as a good worker.   Professional Associations are also a rich source of networking. If you are a member of a professional association (and have been generous with your time and talent) people should know you and help you connect with others who can provide leads and feedback.  You should have to make very few cold calls.   Your resume should be an addendum to a meeting, not the request for the meeting itself. Are you asking your resume to do the work that your network should be doing?

Introducing the New Bonnie and Clyde for Careers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Introducing the New Bonnie and Clyde for Careers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career As you all probably know already, Im highly connected on the career front.   Recently, I crossed paths with the Bonnie and Clyde of the career world.   Bonnie and Clyde were notorious outlaws, robbers and criminals during the great depression.   Back then, they were publicity superstars, appearing just about everywhere.   J.T. ODonnell and Dale Dauten, may not be criminals, but they are journalists who appear just about everywhere as well. Bonnie (J.T.) J.T. stands for Jeanine Tanner and not some guys nickname (I made this mistake at first, which she thought was humorous).   She is a career coach and workplace consultant who helps American workers find greater professional satisfaction.   She works with companies and individuals alike, so she understands how the workforce is changing from hearing their stories.   Her work has appeared in the USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times, and much more.   Her book, CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career, just came out and you should pick up a copy at your convenience. Clyde (Dale) Dale is a force to be reckoned with in traditional media.   He is also the author of more books than you can count on one hand.   This of course is false if you have six or more fingers. Dale is an authority on innovation in the workplace (my kind of guy).   His latest book, Great Employees Only: How Gifted Bossess Hire Dehire Their Way to Success, is about helping managers do staffing right, and hiring the right employees that will feel appreciated, valued and motivated.   Hes one multiple awards and he now writes a column for the Boston Globe. Bonnie and Clyde Come Together J.T. and Dale have joined their superpowers together to fight the never-ending battle of helping people with their careers.   They created J.T. Dale Talk Jobs” which is a nationally syndicated career advice column by King Features that appears weekly in more than 100 US newspapers.   They answer peoples questions and we can all learn a lot from their experiences.

What Does a Staff Accountant Do CareerMetis.com

What Does a Staff Accountant Do Source â€" DepostiPhotos.comLearn about the education and preparation required to become a staff accountant. Get a fast read of the necessities and details concerning degree programs, job duties, and the necessary experience to search out if this is often the career for you.Basic info:evalDegree Level: Bachelor’s degreeDegree FieldEveryday necessities for the position embody a baccalaureate in accounting and one year of accounting experience, which might be gained from associate berth position or previous employment.A Bachelor of Science in Accounting may be a 4-year degree getting ready students with the necessary skills in accounting, business, management, info technology, and ethics. Curricula might embody courses like economics, business communications, pc applications, statistics, and accounting info systems.Potential staff accountants should possess necessary scientific discipline skills, the flexibility to investigate figures, information of accounting principles and excelle nt verbal and written skills. They have to be able to multi-task, establish priorities and organize expeditiously.Information on computers and familiarity with accounting software system is additionally essential. Some employers might need a criminal background check at the side of a written check performed at the time of the appliance.Employment Outlook and Earnings InfoAccording to knowledge from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff Accountant’s DutiesStaff accountants give support to essential accounting and money managers like treasurers, controllers or chief money officers. They will add a range of environments together with the govt., hospitals, little business, producing and public accounting.evalStaff accountants area unit responsible for an associate array of body and money tasks like getting ready to tax returns, maintaining money records, payroll, assets, and accounts collectible.a) Public AccountingIn public accounting, the staff’s accountant services purchasers beneath the superintendence of an additional senior level accountant. They will prepare tax returns, draft money statements, do audit fieldwork and write management letter comments. To qualify for this job, the Certified Public Accountant Designation is commonly most well-liked.This designation is well recognized and revered within the trade. Rules for turning into a controller vary by state. However, most countries need a baccalaureate from associate licensed faculty with a minimum variety of credit hours in accounting, business, and finance. Besides, you want to pass an even test and complete one year of on-the-job coaching.b) Corporate AccountingCorporate staff accountants work beneath the superintendence of associate accounting manager or alternative top dog. During this role they’re typically liable for journal entries, getting ready profit-loss statements, assets, accounts collectible, and daily reconciliation of bank statements.evalCompany staff accountants may supervise a team of accounting clerks and alternative support staff. A bachelor of arts in accounting is needed for this job.c) GovernmentFederal, state and native governments additionally use staff accountants. Operating in government, a staff accountant may match beneath the superintendence of a town financial officer, controller or finance director. Their duties might comprehend the variety of body and money responsibilities like watching money transactions, accommodative request, getting ready money reports, and maintaining business records.d) Health Care and NonprofitsStaff accounts may be found in hospitals, clinics colleges and differing kinds of non-profit-making organizations. In large organizations, the staff’s accountant might specialize in associate accounting perform like payroll, assets or accounts collectible.In smaller entities, they will act additionally as a Renaissance man overseeing varied money duties like maintaining the overall ledger, getting ready monthly reconciliat ions, posting money deposits, and aiding with annual audits.Staff Accountant EarningsThe average gets hold of staff accountants $48,100 per annum. Get hold of this job doesn’t modification abundant by experience, with the foremost intimate earning solely a small amount quite the smallest amount. Individuals during this job usually haven’t got quite twenty years’ experience.Job Description for staff accountantStaff accountants area unit liable for a variety of monetary duties and practices, and pc skills area unit essential during this position to use advanced budgeting and auditing software system programs, also as kind quickly and run various company reports. They’re additionally liable for maintaining a budget and guaranteeing that each one money statements are ready and audited rigorously.Staff Accountant TasksAnalyze money knowledge to organize money reports.Generate and interpret money records and statements for management.Maintain records of assets, liabilities, profit , and loss, liabilities, or alternative money activities at intervals a corporation.Maintain a book of account as required.ExperienceAt any low company, a staff accountant with but one year of experience will expect to earn $35,250 to $42,750 a year, consistent with Robert [*fr1] Finance Accounting, a national money achievement service. With one to a few years of experience, staff accountants average $39,750 to $52,750 a year, whereas those with 3 or additional years of experience earn $49,500 to $63,750 a year.Company SizeOn prime of experience, company size affects salaries. At midsize corporations, staff accountants earn $37,500 to $47,000 with one year of experience, $43,250 to $58,000 with one to a few years of experience and $54,250 to $71,250 with quite three years of experience.At massive corporations, accountants earn $39,750 to $49,500 with one year of experience, $47,250 to $62,000 with one to a few years of experience and $60,250 to $79,250 with quite three years of exp erience.EducationevalAs with nearly any career, academic achievements will improve salaries for staff accountants. On average, accountants earn 5% to 10% additional a year with master’s degrees or skilled certifications, like Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant or licensed in Business Valuation. At any low company, a staff accountant recent out of school will earn $37,013 to $47,025 once certified as a controller.LocationAnother issue influencing earnings is location â€" generally even additional therefore than each experience and education. In la, as an example, staff accountants earn 24% quite the national average. Those operating in Boulder, Colo., additionally fare higher than most, earning 13% quite average. The same, however, can’t be aforementioned for staff accountants in a city, Minn., wherever salaries area unit nearly 21% but average.

9 ways to create a resume - careeralley

9 ways to create a resume - careeralley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. By Susan HoffmanOnline Career Tips Contributor Job applicants find employment in several ways. Some applicants use social media sites to build relationships with a company and to hear about available job positions. Other job seekers are hired after attending networking events, meeting people who know of companies with job openings, and being invited to an interview.Still other applicants respond to ads posted on job boards such as Indeed, Monster, and Dice or go to company websites, applying online through applicant tracking systems (ATS). The ATS software weeds out candidates who are not a match for the job description, helping hiring managers and human resource specialists to create a pool of candidates who are more suitable.The use of applicant tracking systems is one of the hottest trends in corporate recruiting, and there are over 250 applicant tracking systems in existence. However, some systems may screen out certain candidates who perfectly fit the job requirements but dont create the right type of resume for an ATS. Here are 9 actions you can take to ensure your resume is ATS-friendly: Skip the use of tables, colored borders, and other graphic elements in your resume. Applicant tracking systems cannot read tables or artwork easily, and important information may be lost. Label your professional experience under the title Work Experience. If you label your work experience under a different name such as Professional Experience or Career Experience, the ATS may skip over this important section of your electronic resume. When you list your current and previous jobs in your resume, start with your employers name on one line, followed by your job title and the dates of your employment on different lines. This format is easy for ATS software to read. Make sure your resume contains some keywords related to the job for which youre applying. Read the job description carefully. Which words and phrases are frequently repeated or seem most important? Also, what buzzwords are common in your industry? Your resume should contain some of these keywords and industry terms. If youre cutting and pasting sections of your resume into the ATS job application, double-check it and fix any errors before you submit your application. ATS software frequently misinterprets bulleted columns or adds unexpected spaces between words and symbols. These errors cause your resume to appear sloppy to human readers and impacts their view of your professionalism. Use a font that is simple for an ATS to understand. Some recommended fonts are Arial, Courier, Georgia, and Tahoma, because these fonts are simple for an ATS or a human to read. Submit your resume as a Word document, rather than a PDF. Unless the ATS tells you that a PDF is one of the specific file types it will accept, its better to submit your resume as a Word document. Documents in a Word format are easier for the ATS to understand. Check your spelling and grammar. Its easy to make accidental mistakes as youre typing your resume or customizing it for an employer. If a word is misspelled, the ATS may misread it. Its best to use a conventional spell-checker, check it over with your own eyes, and ask a friend to read it as well. Make sure to give your resume document a meaningful name so it can be easily distinguished from other resumes in the ATS. Instead of using a generic file name such as resume.doc, use your last name followed by the job position. With the intense competition for jobs, crafting an ATS-friendly resume is a wise decision. A well-crafted resume that travels easily through an ATS can be the critical difference in whether or not human resource staff see your resume and contact you for an interview. This article atOnlinecareertips.comand was republished with permission. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Visit Joeys profile on Pinterest. Job Search job title, keywords, company, location jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to make a resume and cover letter that gets you hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

How to Write a Resume After Working at One Job For 10 Years

How to Write a Resume After Working at One Job For 10 YearsWriting a resume after working at one job for 10 years should be pretty easy. But there are still so many errors and so many gaps in the details that it makes it almost impossible to write a very good one.The first mistake you should avoid is creating a resume based on the experiences of your job. You should take into account that no matter how hard you work at your job, it is the employer who should have the final say about your career, not you. So don't waste your time trying to impress your boss by using all the experiences you had during your previous job, because you never will.Second, you should avoid using the letter format that your employer sent to you to use for your new job. Again, this will only hurt you.Third, it is a popular misconception that the only way to apply for jobs is to send out a resume. While you might be tempted to do this, it is not a good idea. To be honest, this will have the opposite effect than what you expect.The final step is to make sure that you include everything your potential employer asks for. While you can include a cover letter, if you are looking for a full CV, including the contact details of both you and your previous employer is more important.When you are done writing, ask someone to proofread it for spelling and grammar. If the person notices any errors, they should be fixed before it is submitted. If the reader finds any mistakes or you notice some spelling problems, it is recommended that you proofread it once again, but ensure that the misspellings and grammatical errors are corrected.When applying for a new job, don't be afraid to ask for references. In fact, it is a good idea to ask three references from the people you ask for references. If they see you as a hard worker, they will be more likely to give you a reference.By following these simple tips, you should be able to create a very good resume based on your previous experience. If you follow thes e tips, your resume will become a success.